Hydraulic properties of baled switchgrass and miscanthus

D. F. Schiavone, M. D. Montross

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This study characterized the hydraulic properties within baled switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L., variety Alamo) and miscanthus (Miscanthus giganteus), thereby enabling a better understanding of moisture changes in baled biomass during on-farm storage and/or high-solids bioconversion. Fully saturated bales were drained by gravity, and the moisture content was determined over 60 h. The average initial moisture content ranged between 55.9% and 71.9% (w.b.) for switchgrass and between 60.5% and 73.9% (w.b.) for miscanthus bales depending on the dry bale density. As the bale drained by gravity, rapid leaching of water was observed within the first 0.1 h, with a reduction in moisture content of 7.3 and 7.0 percentage points (w.b.) for switchgrass and miscanthus, respectively. Leaching then continued at a steady rate until termination of the experiment, with further reductions of 4.3 and 4.4 percentage points (w.b.) for switchgrass and miscanthus, respectively. Final moisture contents after 60 h ranged from 45.8% to 58.3% for switchgrass and from 48.7% to 60% for miscanthus, with the higher moisture contents observed in the lowest density bales. Hydraulic conductivity tests were carried out with bales of switchgrass and miscanthus with a constant head system. The average saturated hydraulic conductivity ranged between 0.103 and 0.616 cm s-1 for baled switchgrass and between 0.219 and 0.658 cm s-1 for baled miscanthus depending on the bale density. The matric suction of baled switchgrass was also assessed at variable densities and moisture contents using the contact filter paper method. The van Genuchten parameters were found to range between 0.235 and 0.270 m-1 for and between 5.415 and 10.345 for n, depending on the density. Infiltration tests were also carried out on baled switchgrass at variable densities and moisture contents using a minidisk infiltrometer. The curve-fitting parameters of Philip’s two-term equation ranged between 0.086 10-6 and 0.779 10-6 cm s-1 for C1 and between 0.200 and 5.805 10-6 cm s-1/2 for C2, depending on the density and moisture content. The unsaturated hydraulic conductivity ranged between 0.019 and 0.272 cm s-1, while sorptivity ranged between 0.048 and 2.103 cm s-1/2, depending on the density and moisture content. These results provide data required to evaluate water flow through variable-density rectangular bales and indicate a potential to remove end-products of biomass conversion from baled biomass.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1145-1155
Number of pages11
JournalTransactions of the ASABE
Volume61
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2018

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers.

Funding

The authors sincerely acknowledge the financial support of the USDA National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Biomass Research and Development Initiative Grant No. 2011-10006-30363. This is Publication No. 18-04-033 of the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station and is published with the approval of the Director. This work is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Hatch Multistate under 1002344 and 1003563.

FundersFunder number
USDA NIFA Biomass Research and Development Initiative Program
National Institute of Food and Agriculture1003563, 1002344
Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station
Institut Penyelidikan dan Kemajuan Pertanian Malaysia2011-10006-30363

    Keywords

    • Biomass
    • Bioprocessing
    • Flushing
    • High solids

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Forestry
    • Food Science
    • Biomedical Engineering
    • Agronomy and Crop Science
    • Soil Science

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